Tehran

Tehran

Tehran is a capital of the country with a population of 14 million people. It is situated in the unique location at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range.
Despite the fact, that it is the Muslims country, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city, with fantastic authentic restaurants, museums, parks and warm friendly people.
Undoubtedly, Tehran deserves a couple of days of your Iranian itinerary.
Dry climate, proximity to the mountains with ski-clubs, all year round green parks, and blossom flowers, make Tehran a pleasant place to visit.

SAFETY INDEX

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Tehran is on of the safest cities to travel through, though it’s poorly ranked on the safety and dangerous ranking, mainly because of the political risks and plenty of dangerous zones near the borders with Iraq and Afghanistan. Common sense and basic precautions concerning pickpockets in crowds and bazars will allow you to have a hassle-free visit.
Female travelers should be cautious of how they behave and dress in public in order to prevent violating local rules. Avoid walking alone after the sunset and in remote places, because unaccompanied women can be vulnerable to harassment.
In order to make your holiday trouble free, SafeAround did a research and meticulously compiled major information concerning possible risks and dangers in the Tehran’s neighborhoods.
These are the list of the main things to watch out in Tehran.

Fake police. They are usually uniform and flash with a fake ID’s request to see your passport, check your luggage or cash you possess on the subject of the forgery. In case of doubts, just ask them politely to proceed to the nearest police station.

Phone snatchers. Very common on the streets of Tehran. Be vigilant and try to limit the use of a mobile phone on the street.

Be aware of smoking drugs instead of the tobacco in the shishas place.

Robbery by a motorcyclist. Walking along the street, be vigilant and don’t become a victim of bag snatchers on a motorbike.

Because of the high rate of poverty, there are plenty of slums around the city, particularly on the East Tehran. Tourists are not likely to turn out in this part of the area accidentally, however it’s worth to be aware of getting to this kind of place, because of the high rate of crimes and lack of the police.

Warnings & Dangers

OVERALL RISK : HIGH

Inner main urban areas of Tehran have no safety concerns, except of frequent mugging in the tax and pickpocketing.

PICKPOCKETS RISK : N/A

Pickpocketing is a problem in the overcrowded bazars and public transports.
Excessive vigilance in all public places is recommended.

MUGGING RISK : N/A

Mugging might be an issue in Tehran. Don’t flash a cash and other valuables.

SCAMS RISK : N/A

There are almost no scams known in its territory, except of the fake police office that’s worth to be aware of.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : N/A

Traffic in Tehran is very congested. Worth to be very vigilant while crossing the street.
Accidents while travelling on the road occur frequently. There is a threat while off-road driving. Ensure cars are well equipped and you carry enough water.
Outside of the main citis, the roadways vary from very good to poor condition. Many are not properly illuminated during hours of darkness.
Driving can be dangerous. Drivers displaying varying degrees of skill, aggressiveness, and attentiveness often maneuver erratically and at high speed, demonstrating little road discipline or courtesy
Vessels operating in the Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman are at the increased risk of pirates’ attack.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : N/A

Iran experiences extremely high temperatures, which can exceed 50C. Sandstorms occur on a regular basis. Sometimes, severe thunderstorms may occur. Earthquakes may occur in much of the country.
Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System.

TERRORISM RISK : N/A

The likelihood of carrying out the attacks is high. We advise to be vigilant all the time in all public places.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : N/A

Overall, female travellers risk in Iran seems to be on par with main European countries, Australia, Canada or USA. SafeAround recommends taking normal safety precautious and trying to avoid visiting remote neighbourhoods late at night.

Carte

WHAT TO DO?

Among the most popular sites to visit in the city are Azadi Tower, that shows a great mix of modern architecture of the 1960s with Persian influence, Golestan Palace, that represents a wonderful Iranian architectural pattern, the Grand Bazaar that has over 10 km of labyrinthine alleyways and of course national museum of Iran, that is filled with an impressive range of treasures and objects.

Useful Information

Entry will be refused to citizens of Israel and foreign travellers with any evidence of visiting Israel. The Iran tourist visa is issued for up to 30 days and is extendable. It must be obtained before traveling to Iran and valid to enter for 90 days from the issue date. British and American passport holders will be fingerprinted upon arrival.

Riyal is the official currency of Iran. There is no possible to use American credit card systems like MasterCard or Visa. Prepaid debit cards can be bought at Iranian banks and serve as a good alternative to carrying a large wad of cash around the country. Bank-e Melli-ye Iran (National Bank of Iran) which is a government-owned bank in Iran, provides an ATM debit card service (plastic magnetic card) for tourists who visit Iran. Tourists just need to head the nearest branch of this bank.